Software Quality Assurance (QA): why is it so important?
Need a reminder about why the QA process for any software development endeavour is more important than one may think? Here are three substantial reasons why!
Ensure error-free codes and applications.
In a nutshell, this is the sole purpose of the QA team in any software development project. However, this endeavour goes far beyond simply running a few tests to identify bugs, and fix them. QA specialists play an integral role in determining the overall health and longevity of any software product, as what is passed (or circled back to the development team) will incrementally build the final product to one as intended — or otherwise.
While the typical Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) features QA much further down the timeline, it’s a process that is best initiated during the development stage itself. This way, codes can be checked for errors, thereby preventing bugs that would prove costly to fix much later. Static Application Security Testing (SAST) is built for this specific purpose, while Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) offers stringent analysis of fully-fledged applications to check for errors in an all-round and ongoing manner.
Maintain customer trust and brand reputation.
A carefully architected product that is free from errors is of value to your users, and will subsequently also be a hit with them. Releasing a product that is ridden with errors, especially glitches that are easily preventable, will frustrate users — and eventually encourage them to satisfy their needs somewhere else. This can also hamper the overall feeling of trust that users have towards your brand, thereby making or breaking your business.
QA, as a result, can be the lynchpin for helping your business avoid such scenarios, without a doubt.
Enable an efficient DevOps process for a customer-centric product.
It’s common knowledge that software development isn’t a one-time process anymore; with Customer Experience (CX) being all the rage, constantly iterating your product to suit consumer demands is what will keep your business relevant. With changes constantly being pushed into the pipeline, smooth throughput can be maintained in a few ways — out of which established QA processes are one of the most important.
By having your QA team stay committed to their duties through intelligent test automation, a vast quantity of testing can be facilitated, but without ever compromising on quality. In the end, you have a product that your customers love, and which won’t be abandoned due to being outdated or glitchy.
In conclusion…
QA within any SDLC is a crucial process, as it confirms whether the nuts and bolts of your software product are fastened tightly, metaphorically speaking. As brands pursue their customers with digital applications day in and day out, businesses need to up the ante in terms of delivering apps that aren’t just useful — but are also an absolute delight to interact with.
QA helps achieve these goals, while also maintaining an ongoing testing process — the ideal combination for a strong application presence, in the online world.
